There are very few things more heart warming than a funny photo of a child 'farming'. Whether that be sitting on equipment or feeding animals or some other common activity thousands of adult farmers do daily.
However, thousands of children are
injured and hundreds are killed every year by hazards found on the farm. Some
of these children are working on the farm while others wander into trouble on
their own or are invited into hazardous areas. Implement injury prevention
strategies today to protect agriculture's greatest resource, and the next generation of farmers, our children.
• Do not allow
children to roam freely on the farm. Design a fenced "safe play
area." This area should be near the house and away from work activities.
• Inspect your farm
on a regular basis for hazards that can injure children wandering on your farm.
Correct obvious hazards immediately.
• Children who are
physically able to be involved in farm work should be assigned age-appropriate
tasks and continually trained to perform them. They should also be constantly
supervised.
• Equip all barns,
farm shops, chemical storage areas, livestock pens, etc. with latches that can
be locked or secured so that children cannot enter.
• Always turn
equipment off, lower hydraulics and remove the key before leaving equipment
unattended.
• Do not expose
children to hazards. Never carry them on tractors and equipment or invite them
into the farm shop, livestock barns, grain bins, etc.
